The slums of Mumbai, India were crowded and chaotic.
Narrow streets twisted between crumbling buildings, and the air was filled with noise, heat, and the constant movement of people struggling to survive.
Into this environment arrived three unusual visitors.
Ethan Voss.
Betty Ross.
And Professor Charles.
After paying a considerable price through certain discreet channels, Ethan had finally obtained Bruce Banner's exact location.
But before meeting the scientist, there was something else that needed to be done.
Several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were secretly monitoring Banner in the area.
If Ethan and his companions approached Banner directly, Nick Fury would inevitably question how they obtained the information. That suspicion could easily trigger an internal investigation inside S.H.I.E.L.D.
And that investigation might create problems for Alexander Pierce.
So Ethan solved the issue in advance.
Professor Charles gently altered the memories of the surveillance agents.
The changes were subtle.
Each agent now believed that during their surveillance they had noticed unknown operatives from another organization secretly observing Banner.
In other words, if Fury investigated later, the agents would assume someone else had discovered Banner independently.
At the same time, Ethan had already reassured the President and several senior officials in Washington that he had been quietly tracking the Hulk's whereabouts.
With those two layers of explanation combined, most of Fury's suspicions would disappear.
Ethan had no interest in turning S.H.I.E.L.D. into an enemy.
Not because he feared them.
Because it would be annoying.
He had far more important things to do—like expanding his divine kingdom.
Playing intelligence games with Fury would simply waste time.
After the agents' memories were adjusted, the three finally located Bruce Banner.
The scientist had taken on the identity of a local doctor.
In the slums, he quietly treated sick and injured residents.
The job allowed him to hide his identity while still earning a modest income.
When Ethan spotted Banner in the distance, he turned to Betty.
"Miss Ross," he said softly, "you should go first."
"Banner is extremely sensitive. The professor and I will stay here for now."
Betty nodded.
Her eyes were already locked onto the familiar figure across the street.
When Ethan's secretary Felicia first approached her with the invitation, Betty had no intention of changing jobs.
But Ethan's offer contained something she could not refuse.
The chance to see Bruce again.
Perhaps there truly was some invisible bond between lovers.
Before Betty had even crossed the crowded street completely, Banner suddenly lifted his head.
It was as if he sensed her presence.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Bruce Banner froze.
Then he instinctively took half a step backward, as if he were preparing to turn and leave.
"Bruce!"
Betty's tearful voice stopped him instantly.
Banner stood there helplessly.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"Betty… what are you doing here?"
From a distance, Ethan and Professor Charles quietly watched the reunion.
"Mr. Voss," the professor asked softly, "is he the green monster we encountered that day?"
"Yes," Ethan replied.
"Bruce Banner was exposed to extreme levels of gamma radiation during an experiment."
"The radiation mutated his body."
"Normally he remains human."
"But when he becomes angry or threatened… he transforms into the Hulk."
He gestured casually.
"Similar to Blonsky, in a way."
"But Banner is different."
"There are two personalities inside him."
"One is a brilliant scientist."
"The other is the Hulk."
"A powerful but immature personality driven by emotion."
The professor nodded thoughtfully.
"Such a person could indeed become extremely dangerous to those around him."
"Yes," Ethan agreed calmly.
"Unless he stands beside people strong enough to guide him."
"For example… the Justice League."
While they spoke, Betty had already persuaded Banner to come over.
Soon the couple approached.
Banner looked first at Professor Charles in his wheelchair and seemed slightly surprised.
"You're the man who subdued the Abomination that day," he said slowly.
"And recently you fought those robots in New York."
He glanced at Ethan.
"You're with the… Justice League?"
Ethan smiled slightly.
"It seems Dr. Banner still follows news from the United States."
"Then you probably know we're not villains."
He gestured toward a nearby café.
"Shall we talk somewhere quieter?"
Soon the four of them sat across from one another in a small but comfortable coffee shop.
Ethan spoke first.
"Dr. Banner, we've come to invite you to join the Justice League."
"We believe you could become a hero who protects others."
A trace of sarcasm appeared in Banner's eyes.
"A monster protecting justice?"
"Did you forget what I've done?"
Ethan smiled calmly and glanced at Betty.
"First of all, I don't think you're a monster."
"Second, even with Miss Ross sitting here, I'll say this openly."
"What I see is not the damage you caused."
"What I see is what General Ross did to you."
Banner stiffened slightly.
"Your father," Ethan continued gently toward Betty, "was a man obsessed with war."
"People like him don't think in terms of good or evil."
"They think about orders."
"Power."
"Results."
He looked directly at Banner.
"Yes, you've hurt people."
"But the truth is you were resisting the harm inflicted upon you."
"Isn't that correct?"
Banner stared at him in shock.
Very few people had ever spoken to him like that.
Most people feared him.
They saw the destruction left behind by the Hulk.
They saw the monster.
No one had ever told him something different.
No one had ever said:
You were defending yourself.
Banner's eyes softened slightly, but he still shook his head.
"I appreciate what you're saying."
"But there's not just one person inside this body."
"There's also the Hulk."
His voice darkened.
"And he's uncontrollable."
"All we bring to the people around us… is disaster."
He sighed quietly.
"Maybe this is God's punishment."
"I'm a curse."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Dr. Banner."
"Are you evil?"
Banner blinked.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"What about the Hulk?" Ethan continued.
Banner hesitated.
Then he nodded slightly.
"Why?" Ethan asked.
Banner frowned.
"What do you mean why?"
"He was born like that."
"Violent."
"Angry."
"Destructive."
Ethan leaned forward.
"Dr. Banner… the Hulk was born from your body."
"You are a kind man."
"So why would a kind person give birth to an evil soul?"
Banner frowned deeply but remained silent.
Ethan continued speaking calmly.
"Have you ever considered another possibility?"
"Maybe he isn't evil."
"Imagine this."
"A new consciousness is born inside your body."
"But it has no body of its own."
"It's trapped in your mind."
"When it finally takes control and enters the world for the first time… how do you think it feels?"
"Confused?"
"Terrified?"
"Panicked?"
Ethan's voice softened.
"And when that frightened soul looks at you…"
"What does it feel from you?"
"Comfort?"
"Or disgust?"
"Fear?"
"Hatred?"
He continued slowly.
"And every time the Hulk gains control of your body…"
"What does he face?"
"Bullets."
"Artillery fire."
"Soldiers surrounding him."
"Or someone forcing a gun into his mouth and telling him to kill himself."
Confusion spread across Banner's face.
Ethan asked quietly.
"Dr. Banner…"
"What does it really mean to be born evil?"
Banner could not answer.
He had never thought about it this way.
For years he had treated the Hulk like a monster living inside him.
But what if the Hulk was simply another person?
Not a monster.
Just a confused being trying to survive.
Banner finally sighed.
"Mr. Voss…"
"I've never thought about it like that."
Ethan smiled.
"In many organizations," he said lightly, "people recruit new members by appealing to justice or seduction."
"They treat people like tools."
He spread his hands.
"But I'm different."
"I'm a boss with a humanitarian perspective."
"If I ask someone to work for me…"
"I always offer something in return."
He looked directly at Banner.
"I want you to join the Justice League."
"And in return…"
"I'll help you reconcile with the Hulk."
Banner's entire body stiffened.
"What kind of reconciliation?" he asked quickly.
Ethan shrugged.
"That depends on you."
"I have a special realm where you can communicate directly with the Hulk."
"You can discover for yourself whether the soul you created is good… or evil."
He paused before adding another option.
"If you want, I can even separate your consciousness and the Hulk's."
"Each of you could exist in a different body."
He gestured toward Professor Charles.
"The professor has extensive experience studying consciousness and psychic structures."
"We're confident it can be done."
Hope flashed across Bruce Banner's eyes.
He barely hesitated.
"Alright."
"I'll go with you."
.....
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